When i was playing this game 20 years ago, i thought in 20 years time, strategy games will be amazing and so much more evolved. Sadly, here we are, going back to the "glory days" because there's barely any progression beyond shinier graphics.

Hopefully they make a version like this for Crusader with a skirmish mode. I would definitely buy it.

Stronghold is the example that shows that a game does not need to have fancy graphics to be great. Stronghold is so great, because the game reacts to the player's choice

Anyone who likes strategy games but hasn't played I highly recommend it, this games charm is unmatched, played it in 2000s and I was spending hours just making most unpenetrable castles for absolutely no reason but fun, never got into the second and third one but this and the Crusader are my absolute favorite right there with Red Alert 2

I see people complaining about the lack of skirmish mode and I totally get that as I myself would have loved to see it included. However, this ultimately just a remake. A well made one with some new things added but a remake all the same. Adding skirmish mode would require a level of enemy AI that Stronghold 1 frankly does not have. You will notice that virtually all the missions are either you in control of a castle with maybe an enemy occasionally spanning in troops at the signpost to invade or you yourself are the invading force and the enemy castle is more or less static (ie lacking any true economy and not being able to create more troops). The closest Stronghold 1 has to skirmish is that last mission with the Snake but even that is him in a static castle while Pig invades with troops spawned at the signpost. So unless they can somehow copy paste the AI from Stronghold Crusader or build it from the ground up, I just do not see it happening. But hey, hopefully we will also get a definitive edition for Crusader.

This one hurts. Skirmish would have been an easy purchase. As it stands, gonna have to pass on this one.

Good review and as always, being reviewed by a fan makes a huge difference. Learnt a lot so definitely be thinking about buying myself a copy and replaying it too haha and also useful to know what issues it still have.

no skirmish mode killed it for me,i was imensely disapointed.

i like how transparent this guy was with his affiliation that's comforting really XD

What were they thinking releasing Stronghold without skirmish? That's what made the game timeless, not campaign and scenarios.

I am very glad it turned out so well! If they would included more extensive modding tools I would have bought it in a second, might still in the future. Who knows

been looking for something like this for a while! thanks!

My dad got me into this game when I was little, I’m 23 now when this is coming out and I bought it as soon as I saw it. I thought you made great points in the video and I really wish there was a skirmish AI too because that’s basically the crusader campaign but it’s completely missing from the new version :(

Going to be looking forward to a Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition in the future. I hope that they add new units and a newer crusader trail too. Maybe even combining both Crusader and Crusader Extreme into one game for the definitive edition.

Great, level-headed and fair review from someone who clearly knows the game well. Bravo!

Not having skirmish killed the appeal for me

Great review. On top of the Steam multiplayer and new campaign there are several good QOL improvements and bug fixes in it and I am currently really enjoying the game. But yea: 12:15 I am totally with you on that and would love if that was a possibility.

I will definitely be picking this up. I love the improvements. I don’t care for multiplayer or co-op so those things don’t affect me. The skirmish mode I can live without for now. I’d love to crusader get the same treatment and it will be interesting to see what comes out of steam workshop.

I am looking forward to those DLC because both the pig and the wolf retook counties in SH so maybe that's what we are getting. I did want to play has the bad guys during their rebellion but this is close enough.

I never owned this game until the HD edition, I played a game demo of Crusader and some time later found the game when I was on vacation in Denmark and it became a game I really loved even if I only played skirmish by myself. When I got HD Crusader there suddenly more lords then I remember. I am going to buy this game most likely at the end of the month to support the team and make Crusader DE an possibility but will of course play this too, I never finished the campaign maybe it is time.

Really would love to see the classic left click control scheme showing up again in newer titles, not just remasters.

For a game its' age, this game still amazes me today. I have played this game for many years and many hours. This game might be older than ZADE. Here's to you for another great review. 👍👍

Looks good, I''m bothered though by the music volume being altered up and down when clicking on units... dont think this is supposed to happen?

Already bought it, would've paid even more. Stronghold & Crusader are my favorite ever games. I do agree on the Co-Op thinking but for me it's worth the price even if nothing else that I can play it at 1440P on my 32" curved Monitor and it looks fantastic!

I never played this before saw it picked it up. I can’t stop playing! Worth it for sure!

9:15 i remeber use to use phone and calin to frined each oder with ID numbers tryin to use one fo 2 or 3 IP option but it was Cruserder 1s to conect

I am playing this game and love it truly my sire! You have spoilt us!

I was excited about this until you said about thier being not pve 😢

Are you familiar with an old rts called rise and fall? Was like AoE but you could control hero units in 3rd person.

I am absolutely loving it, i am having a blast on the new campaigns and i love the new graphics, However, i think what I love the most are the quality-of-life features like auto selling and recruiting more than one troop at a time.

Ill probably end up picking it up to enjoy the campaign with the new visiuals (although HD is already decent enough for that) with luck we can convince them to get some kind of coop running. and then it will grow. hell maybe even the community will find a way to mod in the AI.

My god! That music! It sounds like my childhood! Definitely need coop and pve

I still remember getting the original as a present as a kid. Excitedly went to install and load the game up and heard, "Happy Birthday, my Lord!" Just about fell out of my chair. How did it know?

Really need a Skirmish mode. Tried to play multiplayer as well and ever kept disconnecting and crashing several times. Hopefully it’ll get better later on and I’ll rebuy it.

It's rare for me to find a video where I agree with the reviewer to such an extent. Really well put together.

Worth it for working multiplayer. Prev. ones I died trying to set-up a multiplayer game.

Need a Stronghold 2: DE!!!

Thanks for the review.

A very special RTS game. One of the greatest.

How are the map sizes? My only problem with the original are the tiny maps, even the "huge" map are small af

They will likely do Crusader Definitive and I'm looking forward to it. As many others do. I wouldn't wonder if they are planning or working on it already. Overall Crusader was the better Stronghold just bound to that desert setting. And it also had more variety in units.

I'm absolutely gutted to learn that there is no skirmish/co-op.

Without co-op, unfortunately, its a no go for me. Looks good though for those who would like a new go at the campaigns.

Tries to make skirmish mode. Game code - Cant place that there M'lord

I was hyped for the game until I realized there is no multiplayer vs AI. Unfortunately that means a no for me, I will stick to the Stronghold Crusader that does have it.

I played it and in multiplayer i couldnt sell iron or stone. Hope it gets fixed. I'm told it's a tech tree option. I had it on low which doesn't allow that.

I really want to buy it, but I only play skirmish mode in crusader. Shame, I just assumed they would port over the crusader skirmish ai somehow. Hopefully skirmish ai comes if crusader HD gets a remaster

@Zade - is there a new economic campaign? how does it hold up? how many missions?

Althought the hotkeys say "Tab" for rotating building I have not been able to do this even assigning another hotkey.

I bought this game yearss ago still have the CD Fr it :) And i bought Strnghold HD is there a differencebeside new campaign

They do not intend on making skirmish for the Definitive Edition. They claimed so on their TikTok replies. But they intend on making a sequel with Skirmish included

For me it is the same as for you, Zade. I think a lot of my friends (probably myself included) would buy the game, if it just had a co-op mode. Maybe modders will do something about it....

My theory is that they won't release skirmish. Mode because that already exist in SH crusader. So there might be a DE edition of that too in the future

I just loaded up the HD edition on Steam, I must have bought it 10 years ago. I forgot how much fun this game is. When I'm finished I may pick up this new edition to play the new campaigns. Honestly though, my favorite was always the economic campaign. Keeping the peasants happy and productive is relaxing, yet challenging game play.

YES WE WANT SKIRMISH MODE!!! hell, even if its DLC with other features like that theatre from strongold kingdoms. Also i really hope next Stronghold Unreal doesnt go like Warlords. thx for the review

have they fixed the bugs that you could mine apples and stone faster? i remember in multiplayer you did a block move with stone and the miners didn't have to walk the full distance and it just broke the game for me. multiplayer just ended up being horse achers with shields

I'm so grateful for Firefly that they did this. The "newer" games with 3D graphics were such a let down. All we ever needed was those old games (Stronghold + Crusader) but with a modern take EXACTLY like they've done with the definitive edition. Thank you so much for this Firefly and everyone involved! Next, please do Crusader! :)

You can actually create scenarios where the AI will attack you multiple points in the game in stronghold like skirmish but you can make them attack you at volume you make for them which I found was okay and pretty fun

@Zade i think they save skirmish mode for Stronghold Crusader cause its already there.

The “we’re all freaken old”. Hit hard 😭😭😭

I really appreciate you disclosing your relationship with Firefly. That kind of transparency is rare. Liked.

Is there only the campaing or can I play versus AI like in crusader? Is there a sandbox where I can just do what I want, like in crusader?

Used to play in castle builder mode, or free mode? Maybe it was the world edit.. I'd make wall mazes or coliseums and generate a bunch of lions and just send ppl through to get massacred. Really love watching the mace men just obliterate weaker units.

I've been playing campaigns, scenarios, and free builds w/invasions for two decades. I can wait for Crusader DE for skirmish, where it's meant to be.

I personally never played the campain in any of the Stronghold games. Skirmish both solo and with my buds.

Stronghold could have evolved to something like Manor Lords if they would have kept innovating. I mean, as a 13 year old kid I loved Stronghold. I remember every song, it was amazing. But come on Firefly Studio's, make us proud again!

Between the first Stronghold HD and Stronghold Crusader HD, which should I pick to buy this first? I never played this game before but I wanna try it, let me know your thoughts 😄

I don't think they'll add skirmish to this, though who knows, if this does well enough, maybe they'll make a Crusader DE. From what I understand, skirmish AI would technically require them to run the game on a modified engine and wanting to port it over would have broken too much stuff to get it finished in any reasonable amount of time.

Are we getting a stronghold 2 definitive edition in the future?

So i can play only campaign but not a skirmish map with my friend?

such a vibe, this game is soo good imo and underrated

What's the graphical difference between Stronghold HD and Stronghold Definitive Edition? I love the old art style. Just want it in higher definition.

As Stronghold DE stands now. It's an amazing single player gaming experience for about 15-20 hours. 30ish hours if you enjoy pvp

Great video! And an accurate conclusion about the longevity of this game without the inclusion of Skirmish AI... huge oversight that causes me to NOT recommend this game to my more casual strategy gaming friends. Heck, I'd buy this game FOR my friends if it meant we could play co-op together against AI! I don't know if the devs just don't understand this about many strategy gamers, but we don't all foam at the mouth for PvP. The older I get the more I actually avoid it for games like this, because it takes time and effort to build the skills and speed needed to play competitively against real people. I hope they reconsider this decision some day. I will buy this game and enjoy it. But it looks like I'll be waiting for Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition before I can really start recommending it to my friends, since that game has Skirmish.

Stronghold and AOE2 are some of my favorite games right now

Firefly we need co-op skirmish on this game me and my friends were so excited about this and was gona put in our rotation of games but we cant play together in a skirmish so we are gona by pass it so gutted!

They have rereleased Stronghold and Crusader like 3 times a piece now... Can they Please do Stronghold 2, and give That the Co-op skirmish mode?

No skirmish no sale. Sad, has everything else I would want

Do they intend to make a Stronghold 2 DE? That's the only version of the game I played, and I enjoyed it.

one of the best rts ever made. i still love this game after many years

I was loving the review, added the game to my cart. As you mentioned there's no PvE or Co-op... that made me not want to get it. For shame! What were they thinking!? I guess I'm gonna just launch Crusader HD again.

Are there any new voicelines at all....? From the old voice actors?

Stronghold is a genre defining game that hasn't had any competitor enter the space. I really think there's an opportunity for an indie developer to come in and create a new stronghold game and fill this niche in the market.

would be great if there is a rank system

True, skrimish is one of the most important aspect of rts game

This series of videos was so good I didn't need to buy the game anymore.

Skirmish is crusader. They’ll do it don’t worry. Hopefully soon…

Skirmish in Stronghold DE is a must, I don’t want to play skirmish in “crusaders DE”, I would pay for this feature, what a shame…

I was hyped when they launch it but unfortunately there is no skirmish mode, like why??

They didnt mesh the tiles together well at all its very boxy looking more so than the og. a good example of what im talking about would be aoe de

Big aoe2 guy, actually never heard of this game though. Might have to check it out

my biggest issue with this game is that 95% of multiplayer games end in a crash its so exhausting, when you have build your castle and have a decent economy, but then suddenly the servers/game freeze and its all over

co-op missions will be great..

That news about skirmish mode hit me with a wave of disappointment, I was really looking forward to finally being able to play this online with my cousin with no issues. We cant for the life of us get crusader to stop crashing on gameranger

Lets hope its successful and they remake Crusader, add coop and skirmish mode.

If they released it for the Mac I'd get it for sure

Its funny to think that Firefly Studios's reaction to the lukewarm release of Stronghold Warlords is to just marginally update their very first game, desperately attempting to power their studio a bit longer with that lightning in a bottle they found way back. Outside of these remasters I doubt we'll ever see something great from them again, but having been bought by Devolver Digital gives me that slight glimmer of hope that something cool could come out of the studio yet.

You sold me this game halfway of the video :P.

They should have just add modern controls to Crusader and leave it. 🤷‍♂️ Would have been a hit imo. Still playing to this day, all time fav.

It's weird really, because these old stronghold games already got re-released in HD. This is a re-re-release of this game, for some reason. Oh and Stronghold Crusader 1 HD and 2 have skirmish vs AI if I remember rightly, which honestly is why they're the better stronghold games over the first one.